FREELAND, MI — LeAnne Iamurri kicked off her holiday season by hanging Saginaw-themed ornaments on a Christmas tree inside Freeland's Apple Mountain banquet center. But she wasn't doing the work for herself.

Iamurri is co-chair of the Junior League of Saginaw Valley's annual Festival of Trees. The event revolves around some 100 artificial trees, decorated by
Junior League members, local businesses and
nonprofit organizations.

The trees are raffled off on Sunday, Nov. 17, after three days when the public can view them and decide which they like best. Proceeds benefit the Junior League, a group that promotes volunteerism and improving the community.

"I love it," Iamurri said Wednesday, Nov. 13. "It's my favorite time of year in the Junior League."

Iamurri joined a group of decorators on Wednesday who gathered to adorn their trees with bulbs, ornaments, strings of lights and, in Iamurri's case, gift certificates.

Iamurri was working with Monica Rethman to finish a tree revolving around Saginaw businesses and landmarks.

"I love Saginaw and I get sick of it getting a bad rap," Rethman said.

The women decorated their tree with coffee and tea from Crumb's Gourmet Cookie Cafe, spices from the Rib Shack, gift certificates from Fuzzy's, Tony's and Jack's Fruit & Meat Market and even a stuffed pink toy rabbit, meant to symbolize the Bean Bunny.

Iamurri wasn't nearly done with her tree decorating duties, though the Saginaw tree was reaching completion. After that tree was done, she was preparing to set up her personal decorating project - a candy-themed tree.

The Festival of Trees kicks off at 10 a.m. Friday, Nov. 15, when the public can
begin viewing the dozens of decorated trees.

Admission is $3 per
person for the event that continues until 5 p.m. Friday, from 10 a.m. to
7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 17.
Children 5 and under get in for free. Apple Mountain is at 4519 N. River.

For those looking to get
dressed up for a party atmosphere, the Premiere Night Party from 6 p.m.
to 10 p.m. Friday offers up music, food and a live auction. Admission
to the public event is $20 per person.

Those hoping to win one of the trees can buy a raffle tickets for $1 a piece and put them into a box at the tree. The winning ticket for each tree is drawn on Sunday.

On Wednesday, Carrie Kessel put the final touches on a tree adorned with Hello Kitty decorations. Kessel is somewhat of a legend within the large banquet room, as others discuss her 2012 Festival of Trees entry.

The Barbie-themed tree grabbed the highest number of raffle tickets last year, members said, with a box overflowing with tickets.

For a more traditional tree, bidders this year can keep an eye open for the Macy's entry. The department store is a main sponsor of the event.

The Morley Companies entry also provides a more traditional tree, with a theme centered around the 150th anniversary of Morley. The green tree decorated in gold, silver and red decorations goes with the company's "honoring the past, inspiring the future" anniversary slogan.

"It's actually challenging to come up with a new theme every year," said Monica Guerra, a veteran of the festival.

Guerra worked Wednesday next to Laura Morris, also working on the Morley tree. The two have participated in the event for 10 years.

Many of the decorators are veterans, including Iamurri, who has been a league member since the 2000-2001 season. She has chaired the event four times.

"It's one of the reason I joined the Junior League in the first place," Iamurri said of the event.